(WDNews) — Governor Kay Ivey joined state and local officials in Camden on Wednesday to celebrate progress on Alabama’s Statewide Middle-Mile Fiber Network, a landmark infrastructure project expanding access to high-speed internet across the state.
Developed through a partnership between the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), the 3,500-mile fiber backbone is nearing completion. While the full project is expected to finish in February 2026, AFN now provides middle-mile service in all 67 counties, ahead of schedule as of October 31, 2025.
Wednesday’s event marked the network’s crossing of the Alabama River at the J. Lee Long Bridge on Alabama Highway 29, one of the final major segments statewide. The middle-mile network is considered one of Alabama’s most significant telecommunications investments.
“Since my first day as governor, I have made it a top priority to ensure every Alabamian, no matter their zip code, has access to reliable, high-speed internet service through an internet service provider,” Ivey said. “This middle-mile network represents a once-in-a-generation investment in our state’s future. It will support our hospitals, schools, businesses, families, and it will ensure Alabama remains competitive in the 21st-century economy. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Alabama.”
The project aims to bridge the digital divide by giving last-mile internet providers the infrastructure needed to reach homes and businesses in rural and underserved areas. It will also connect key community facilities such as public safety agencies, schools, libraries, healthcare centers, and local government offices.
ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said the effort represents “an essential building block for our state’s digital future,” crediting partnerships between the governor, Legislature, electric cooperatives, and private sector.
In 2022, Alabama allocated $85 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand broadband access. ADECA awarded $82.4 million of that funding to AFN through a competitive grant process to construct the middle-mile network.
AFN CEO Terry Metze said the project’s success reflects collaboration across sectors.
“This is what partnership looks like,” Metze said. “Through the leadership of Governor Ivey, the guidance of ADECA, and the hard work of Alabama’s rural electric cooperatives, we are creating a network that will serve as the backbone for connectivity for generations to come.”
Local leaders in Camden highlighted the project’s direct benefits. Jessica McGraw, CEO of J. Paul Jones Rural Emergency Hospital, said the network will strengthen rural healthcare.
“Reliable broadband is no longer optional in healthcare,” McGraw said. “This network will allow us to prevent unnecessary disruption of services, securely share patient information, expand telemedicine, and improve access to specialists.”
Governor Ivey added, “Broadband infrastructure is just as essential as roads and bridges. By finishing this project, we’re not just connecting cables; we’re connecting people, communities, and opportunity across Alabama.”
